Wing
Area (Level 1) ActivityIf so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page
for these problems.

Open the slide called
Wing Area
(with text) and read the explanation of why design engineers calculate the
area of wing planforms (planform is the total surface of the
wing surface from above).

What is the area
of the Wright Brother's rectangular planform?

area = _______________

What is the area
of the F-18 (Blue Angels) trapezoidal planform?

area = _______________

What is the area
of the Concorde triangular planform? (Note: These are not the
actual dimensions.)

area = _______________

What is the area
of the Space Shuttle's compound planform? (Note: These are not
the actual dimensions.)

area = _______________

What is the area
of the Boeing 747 trapezoidal planform? (Note: These are not
the actual dimensions. The trapezoidal planform cannot be divided into
two right triangles. Hint: Divide the figure into two scalene
triangles and compute their areas.)

area = _______________

Which of the wings
has the largest area?

Which of the wings
has the smallest area?

Design your own
wing including its dimensions.

What is the area
of your airplane's planform?

Explain why you
designed your planform the way you did.

List the wing types
in order from the largest area to the smallest, including your own wing
design.